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Avian influenza. Conceptual computer artwork of a bird on a column above a cloud of H5N1 avian (bird) influenza virus particles (purple). This virus is currently endemic in birds. Wild birds, the virus' natural hosts, show few symptoms, however infected domestic birds suffer a 90-100% mortality rate. It can be spread to humans by inhaling the faeces of infected birds, and can be fatal. It is feared it could mutate into a form able to be transmitted from human to human, potentially leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths.